North America Archives - Page 12 of 16

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RARE AMERICAN ELLIPSOGRAPH — F. BOWLY’S INSTRUMENT FOR DESCRIBING ELLIPSES, c. 1870, signed “F. Bowly’s patent Jan¹y. 14, 1868.” This most unusual instrument is constructed with framework of beautifully grained tropical hardwood, and with linkages and fittings of brass and boxwood. When closed up it measures 16-1/4″ (41 cm) long and only 5/8″ x 1-7/8″ (1.6 x 4.8 cm) in overall cross section. The frame (whose form reminds one of a violin bow) has fixed point and index pointer Read More...

03 Feb

EARLY RECORDING TELEGRAPH REGISTER — THE SAMUEL MORSE / ALFRED VAIL DESIGN

By TESSERACT

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EARLY RECORDING TELEGRAPH REGISTER — THE SAMUEL MORSE / ALFRED VAIL DESIGN, American, c. 1865, signed “J.S. Keeling, 16 Broadway” and “E.M. Pierson” and numbered “1.” This substantial brass device is mounted to a 5-3/4″ x 13″ (15 x 33 cm) mahogany board, with two terminal posts wired to a pair of electromagnetic coils. The main structure is most elegantly designed, with aesthetic recurved shaping of the 5/16″ thick solid brass side plates. The brass mechanism consists of a Read More...

30 Jan

SPECTACULAR FULL-CREATURE PREPARATIONS

By TESSERACT

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SPECTACULAR FULL-CREATURE PREPARATIONS, English, c. last quarter 19th century, the six each mounted under cover glass on a 1″ x 3″ (2.5 x 7.6 cm) glass slide with applied paper label(s). Included are mounts by Norman, Darlaston, and the famous Frederic Enock, displaying Sedge Fly, Gad Fly, Sailor Beetle, Male Earwig, Sheep Tick, plus a Heath Spider. Dramatic mounts in fine condition. Read More...

27 Jan

NOVEL PIE CRIMPER — AN ORIGINAL U.S. PATENT MODEL

By TESSERACT

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NOVEL PIE CRIMPER — AN ORIGINAL U.S. PATENT MODEL, American, 1863, signed in ink by the inventor “Herbert Marshall, Dracut, Mass.” Well crafted of three woods, this 7″ (18 cm) long full size model has a fine turned handle which swivels, curved brace block to follow the curvature of a pie plate, and the cut wheel with repeating patterns of lines and circles to impress a professional looking design on the dough all around the circumference of the unbaked Read More...

22 Jan

Model & diagram of the North American Aviation, Trisonic Wind Tunnel, El Segundo, CA.

By Hatchwell Antiques

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A resin model and diagram of the North American Aviation (NAA) Trisonic Wind Tunnel (TWT), El Segundo, California. Circa 1955. Diagram printed on thick card. The Trisonic Wind Tunnel was built by North American Aviation in the 1950’s. The tunnel was so named because it was capable of testing in three speed regimes – subsonic, transonic, and supersonic, with a maximum speed of Mach 3.5. Aircraft such as the XB-70 Valkyrie, B-1 Lancer, X-15 space plane, Apollo Command and Service Module, the Read More...

02 Dec

Six late 19th and early 20th-Century Probangs

By M and R Gordon

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Six late 19th and early 20th-century probangs. Probangs were used to remove foreign bodies that were lodged in the throat or esophagus. Numbers 1,2 and 6 have shafts made of a flexible natural material. Number 1 has German-silver mountings and when the collar is slid down folds in half. Number 4 is stamped “ARNOLD & SON” and with the broad arrow indicating that it was used in the British military. Nos 3 and 5 are two different version of Read More...

19 Nov

SPENCER LENS CO. MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE

By TESSERACT

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SPENCER LENS CO. MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE, American (Buffalo, N.Y.), , mid-20th century, 95x, N.A.1.25, Hom. 1-1.8 mm, # 574493. Very fine. Read More...

15 Nov

THE PATENTED BIASCOPE

By TESSERACT

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THE PATENTED BIASCOPE, American (Rochester, N.Y.), c. early 20th century, by Wollensak. Measuring 3-3/4″ wide, these pocket binoculars have 6x magnification, with communal focusing by central lever. Fine with light wear. Read More...

12 Nov

CENCO’S LECTURE TABLE GALVANOMETER

By TESSERACT

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CENCO’S LECTURE TABLE GALVANOMETER, American, c. 1930, signed “Central Scientific Co., Chicago.” Standing 14-1/2″ (37 cm) tall overall, with a circular wood base, three leveling screws, and a glass dome, the galvanometer has a permanent magnet (with patented rotation about the vertical axis for zero correction), a suspended copper wire coil attached to the double needle, and a double readout scale (front and back, for visibility from both sides). In Cenco’s catalogue we find that a deflection of one Read More...

12 Nov

FIRST FORM OF WEBB’S ADDER

By TESSERACT

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FIRST FORM OF WEBB’S ADDER, American, c.1875, signed “C.H. Webb, N.Y., ‘The Adder,’ Patd. March 10th, 1868,” #C671. Made of sheet brass on mahogany, 6-3/4″ (17 cm) overall, this is the uncommonly found early form of Webb’s “two-wheeled velocipede of figures.” Described in detail by Kidwell in Rittenhouse (1, 12), it was succeeded by Webb’s popular all-metal version. This is a good example of this American calculating instrument, in fine condition, with photocopies of Webb’s instructions and glorious testimonials. The Read More...

01 Nov

LARGE EARLY OCTANT WITH SOLID BOXWOOD SCALE ARM

By TESSERACT

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LARGE EARLY OCTANT WITH SOLID BOXWOOD SCALE ARM, American or English, c.1750-1760. Framed in mahogany (or rosewood), with boxwood scale arm 1/2″ thick, the octant measures 20″ (51 cm) overall. It is equipped with wooden index arm ending in brass “line of faith” reading against transversal scale, and inset blank name plate of boxwood. There are two mirrors, set of three filters (one cracked) interchangeable between horizon and index positions, double peep with pivoting cover, and remains of the Read More...

22 Oct

DRS. BLACK’S CANADIAN / AMERICAN CUPPING APPARATUS

By TESSERACT

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DRS. BLACK’S CANADIAN / AMERICAN CUPPING APPARATUS, c. 1895. The 10″ (25 cm) long fitted walnut case contains a gutta percha hand piston pump and two screw-on molded glass bleeding cups with gutta percha fittings. The large printed trade label in the case identifies the inventors as Drs. W.S. & F. Black, and the maker as Wm. B. Stewart of Box 646, Trenton, N.J. Condition is fine but some accessories are lacking. It appears that Fergus Black, resident of Read More...